Paralysis News and Research

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Paralysis is the loss of muscle function in part of your body. It happens when something goes wrong with the way messages pass between your brain and muscles. Paralysis can be complete or partial. It can occur on one or both sides of your body. It can also occur in just one area, or it can be widespread. Paralysis of the lower half of your body, including both legs, is called paraplegia. Paralysis of the arms and legs is quadriplegia.

Childrens Hospital Los Angeles awarded $2.5M NIH grant to study risk of osteoporosis in spina bifida children

Tishya Wren, PhD, of The Saban Research Institute at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, has received a $2.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health - National Institute of Child Health and Human Development to study bone development in children with myelomeningocele, the most severe type of spina bifida .

19 Jun 2010

USAID pledges $1.2M in support for national polio vaccination campaigns across Central Asia

The United States Agency for International Development has pledged $1.2 million in support for national poliomyelitis vaccination campaigns across Central Asia to fight the first outbreak of polio in the region since 2002.

19 Jun 2010

Special public meeting to spotlight stem cell-based therapies for ALS

Local scientists, health advocates and leaders from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine will gather in San Diego June 23 for a special public meeting to spotlight a new University of California, San Diego grant to pursue novel, fast-tracked stem cell-based therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease.

18 Jun 2010

Baby with heart condition after surgery ‘chilled’ and cured

Four month old baby Finley Burton was taken for a routine visit to his doctor when two holes were detected in his heart. He subsequently underwent an intricate heart operation to close these holes that were making it difficult for his heart to pump out blood. Right after the operation he developed irregular, erratic heart beats that went over 200 beats per minute. This could have killed him but doctors in Britain found a miracle solution for the problem. They lowered his body temperature.

18 Jun 2010

Research studies may lead to future development of cell transplant therapy for ALS

The University of California, San Diego, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies and Life Technologies Corporation today announced the initiation of studies which may lead to the future development of cell transplant therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Currently, there is only one FDA-approved pharmaceutical addressing this lethal disease, which affects approximately 30,000 people in the United States.

17 Jun 2010

Gabapentin shows effective in patients with locked-in syndrome, opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome

For patients with quadriplegia, mutism and lower cranial nerve paralysis (locked-in syndrome), their only means of interacting with others is through vertical gaze and upper eyelid movements, using eye-coded communication strategies.

17 Jun 2010

National MS Society commits over $2.4M to support 7 CCSVI research projects

Over $2.4 million has been committed by the National MS Society (USA) and the MS Society of Canada to support 7 new research projects focusing on the role of CCSVI in MS.

14 Jun 2010

Sialidase improves nerve regrowth, motor recovery and nervous system function: Researchers

Once damaged, nerves in the spinal cord normally cannot grow back and the only drug approved for treating these injuries does not enable nerve regrowth. Publishing online this week in the Early Edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine show that treating injured rat spinal cords with an enzyme, sialidase, improves nerve regrowth, motor recovery and nervous system function.

10 Jun 2010

Health Canada approves Novartis' Menveo for prevention of meningococcal disease

Novartis Pharmaceutical Canada Inc. announced that Menveo (Meningococcal (Groups A, C, Y and W-135) Oligosaccharide CRM197 Conjugate Vaccine), a quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine was approved by Health Canada for active immunization of adolescents (11 to 18 years of age) and adults (19 to 55 years of age) to prevent invasive meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, C, Y and W-135.

8 Jun 2010

GPI executive director announces keynote speakers, panel topics for 2010 World Stem Cell Summit

Bernard Siegel, executive director of the Genetics Policy Institute and co-chair of the 2010 World Stem Cell Summit, announced the selection of keynote speakers for the World Stem Cell Summit, which is taking place at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center in Detroit, Michigan, October 4-6.

4 Jun 2010

PCA-Rx represents next generation of chelation technology for ASD patients

According to the Center for Disease Control, autism has risen to an epidemic rate of 1 in 100 in the U.S., up from 1 in 150 in 2007. While controversy looms regarding its cause, many parents of autistic children believe a correlation exists with toxin accumulation. To give autism spectrum disorder sufferers a natural alternative to chelation therapy, Maxam Nutraceutics has introduced PCA-Rx.

28 May 2010

Five Prime Therapeutics, Fast Forward partner to develop Multiple Sclerosis therapeutic candidate

Five Prime Therapeutics, Inc., a leader in the discovery and development of innovative biologics, and Fast Forward, LLC, a subsidiary of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, today announced an alliance to fund the development of a FivePrime pre-clinical stage therapeutic candidate for treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Fast Forward will commit up to $1 million to fund the advancement of the therapeutic candidate.

25 May 2010

Phase II ALSTAR trial: Talampanel is safe for ALS patients

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. today announced results from the Phase II ALSTAR trial. The trial was designed to assess efficacy, safety and tolerability of Talampanel (a selective AMPA antagonist) in reducing disease-related functional deterioration in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis patients.

18 May 2010

Electrical muscle stimulation prevents critical illness polynueromyopathy

Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) can prevent critical illness polyneuromyopathy (CIPNM), according to Greek researchers. CIPNM is an acquired limb and respiratory muscle weakness that is a common and serious problem among intensive care unit patients, and can result in prolonged ICU and hospital stay. EMS can also shorten the duration of weaning from mechanical ventilation and the length of ICU stay.

18 May 2010

Adult patients with sickle cell disease may develop cognitive problems: Study

Sickle cell disease may affect brain function in adults who have few or mild complications of the inherited blood disease, according to results of the first study to examine cognitive functioning in adults with sickle cell disease.

12 May 2010

Researchers discover link between sporadic and familial forms of ALS

Researchers from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine have discovered a link between sporadic and familial forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a neurodegenerative disease also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

6 May 2010

WHO announces new guidelines for production, regulation and control of snake antivenoms

With snake bites killing at least 100 000 people a year and countries facing a shortage of appropriate antivenoms, access to and information about available antivenoms is increasingly important. The World Health Organization (WHO) is publishing new guidelines for the production, regulation and control of snake antivenoms and a website with details on where the venomous snakes are located, what they look like, which antivenoms are appropriate, and where they can be obtained.

5 May 2010

Neuralstem's stem cell treatment for ALS featured on CNN with Dr. Sanjay Gupta

Neuralstem, Inc. announced that its stem cell treatment for ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease), currently in a FDA-approved Phase I clinical trial, was featured on CNN last night with Dr. Sanjay Gupta, in the piece entitled "Stem Cell Medical Breakthrough".

30 Apr 2010

Summer born babies more at risk of multiple sclerosis, says research

A recent study in Australia has found a link between low exposure to sunlight during the first three months of pregnancy and development of multiple sclerosis (MS) later in life of the baby.